21 Days of Prayer and FastingSample

DRAWING NEAR TO GOD

Have you ever had an "AHA Moment"? That moment when something that has been a mystery becomes beautifully more evident? At that moment, you say, "Oh, wow"! Then a deep joy and delight frequently follow.

When we had been married for a little over a year, one day, my wife said, "I am pregnant," which was shocking for both of us. However, what was initially surprising and mysterious became beautifully clear after a few moments. We were going to have a child! Deep joy followed.

In Ephesians 1:17, and the passage that surrounds it, Paul is praying for God to give the church in Ephesus (and us) wisdom and a deeper understanding of who God the Father, Son, and Spirit are. He wants to be known by His children.

In prayer and fasting, we intentionally draw near to God, creating space for God to show up. When we do this, it answers Paul's prayer and fulfills God's desire to grow us in our wisdom and understanding so that we will know Him better. Will we understand the vastness of God in a moment? Of course not. Yet, when we draw near to God, we get to know Him better a little at a time. As we do, our understanding of Him becomes increasingly clear, beautifully clearer. Deep joy and elation frequently follow.

- Scott Moon, Skagit Campus Pastor